KRISTINA LEHNER ❘ PHOTOGRAPHY

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Jake & Jamee Engaged:: Kristina Lehner Photography:: Engagement Photographer

Their love is exciting.

Congratulations Jake and Jamee on your upcoming wedding!

XOXO,

KRISTINA LEHNER PHOTOGRAPHY

Friday, April 19, 2013

Waiting for Daddy::Grand Rapids Newborn Photographer

My distant cousin (don't ask the relation, because none of us can explain it) contacted me back in October, 2012 about taking her maternity and newborn photos. What was special about this was that she was writing from Germany. She and her husband and 2 boys had been stationed there for a few years and they were expecting another little one in late December. Unfortunately, Daddy was not going to be there for most of the pregnancy, or the birth, as he was deployed to Afghanistan with the United States Army. Being a wife of a Marine who has deployed as many times as years that we have been married, I could relate to her circumstance. Well, I could relate in having a deployed husband while pregnant, and I could relate to having a child (not 3, oh my, MAD respect, Jen) to raise by myself while my husband fought for our country. I could not, however, relate to laboring a child without my husband by my side and caring for that child for his first months of life without the help of my partner.

My cousin did come home to MI to deliver her third son in the USA, and she did stay with her parents for a few months until her husbands return was drawing nearer, but none of that could substitute for the comfort and normalcy of being in your own home with your husband, raising a young family together. As soon as we booked her sessions I knew I had to do my best to capture and document this precious little life that daddy wasn't going to get to see right away. This resulted in some of my favorite newborn images to date.

Enjoy.

The scale is an old family heirloom of my clients. LOVE when clients bring personal items to their sessions!

These next 4 images are great. My cousin and her brother's wife (also my cousin's) had their baby boys 3 weeks apart. She had specially ordered these cute little froggy hats and diaper covers and brought them to one of their sessions. How great to have this special memory for these two.

We had a surprise in store for her husband. My cousin had brought along a pair of his Cammie's and name tapes. These are the images that resulted from her preparedness. Precious.

This last one makes me cry. An intimate moment caught during a soldiers homecoming. I didn't take it, I wasn't there (I have permission to use it though). Look at Mommy and Daddy embracing with the newest little one smooshed in between them... Ugh... I can hardly handle it!

I have been through this scenario one too many times, so I can relate and FEEL the relief, joy, and love in this photo. I'm so happy for you and your precious family, Cuz! Enjoy him while he's home.

Friday, April 5, 2013

MOMMY & ME MINI SESSIONS ARE HERE! :: Grand Rapids Family, Children, Maternity, & Newborn Photographer

2013

MOMMY & ME MINI SESSIONS

Hey Moms. Are you EVER in front of the camera? How many decent pictures do you have of yourselves with your precious little ones? If you are like me... sadly, not very many. They are only this little for so long. Don't forget to be in a few of the photos along the way. Give yourself this gift that will last forever... or send this link to your husband and tell him you've picked out your Mother's day gift. :D

DATE: Saturday, May 18

$55.00

10-15 MINUTE SESSION

5 PHOTO FILES WITH PRINTING & SHARING RIGHTS

(UPGRADES AVAILABLE)

SESSIONS HELD RAIN OR SHINE

LOCATION ANNOUNCED A FEW DAYS BEFORE SESSION

TIME SLOTS:

10:30AM ~ Booked ~ luv-luv :)

10:45 - Booked ~ Panter Girls

11:00: Booked ~ Backhuyzen

11:15: Booked ~ Howe

11:30: Booked ~ Lotz

2:00PM

2:15 ~ Booked ~ Hall

2:30 ~ Booked ~ Carmody

2:45 ~ Booked ~ Carmody

3:00 ~ Booked ~ Vogrig

*To sign up, email kristinalehnerphotography@gmail.com with the following information:

-names and ages of all to be photographed

-top 3 time slots you would like

-a phone number for calling/texting

This was my favorite mini session last year. There is no love like a Mother for her children, and I love to capture it!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Waiting for Cooper :: Kristina Lehner Photography:: Grand Rapids, MI. Child, Maternity, Newborn & Family Photographer

Two beautiful boys and another one on the way...

Monday, February 18, 2013

Valentines Day. Not just another Halmark Holiday?::Grand Rapids Photographer

Rob and I have never really celebrated Valentines Day. We’ve always called it a Hallmark Holiday. No one is going to TELL us when we should do nice things for each other. We will do it when we choose on our own time. Who's with me?!?

The problem is though, we rarely do.

With a 3 year old and a 5 month old, a house, jobs, and whatever else comes along with it, my husband and I barely have enough time to even look at each other… and some days we don’t. There are nights I go to bed and think to myself “did I even give him a hug or a kiss today? I know I kissed my children 547 times, but did I kiss him even once?”

This past summer I had a terrible health scare during my pregnancy. It landed me in the hospital for 6 weeks with numerous operations and procedures. I almost lost my life 5 or more times. There were nights that I thought I should pull out a pen and paper and write ‘good bye letters’ to my husband, son, family and friends (not that I could have because I was so sick). Miraculously, I came out alive and am still on the road to recovery. My daughter came out just fine… a TOTAL miracle.

Since ‘Health scare’ 2012 I have noticed that I approach life quite differently than days of old. I actually take time to ‘stop and smell the roses’. I revel in doing nice things for others. Make a meal for a family in need, give a smile to the old man in the grocery store, or hold the door open for the woman with the stroller. Just little, simple things, and it’s amazing how good it makes me feel to give and not expect anything in return. I didn’t used to do this, and now I make it my goal to do something nice for someone else everyday.

So, when Valentines Day rolled around this year I wanted to express my love to, well, my loved ones. We made & decorated heart-shaped cookies and put together little gift bags for our family and friends. I did a mini photo session of my children and turned a few of my favorite pictures into their Valentine Cards.

I put together Valentine bags for my children and husband and gave them to them after their special V-Day dinner (complete with heart-shaped ice cubes in their water glasses). The next night my husband and I went out for OUR Valentines Day date. We participated in a ‘Partners’ Yoga class (highly recommended!) and went out to a REALLY nice dinner in a trendy part of town. We had a delicious meal and laughed and chatted while we talked, miraculously, not about the kids!

At a time in our lives where we are sucked into the hustle and bustle, I think it’s nice to have a holiday that makes us stop and do nice things for those we care about most. I mean, what’s so bad about a holiday that celebrates LOVE?!?

Heads up, Robbie, I’m celebrating every year from now on.

Ps: these are the flowers my husband gave me… aren’t they WONDERFUL?